Perspectives in Bioremediation: Technologies for Environmental Improvement (Nato Science Partnership Subseries: 3 (19))

Bioremediation - the use of microorganisms for environmental clean-up - is a technology that is experiencing a rapid phase of development. From the opening chapter of __Perspectives in____Bioremediation__, on the nature of environmental site assessment, on to the genetic manipulation of native soil microorganisms, the international collection of authors provide an understanding of the current progress and limitations of technologies that are designed to help nature herself. The book draws together many different aspects of environmental remediation: the environmental engineer is introduced to the bacteria of contaminated environments and the ideas developing from genetic engineering; the environmental microbiologist can grasp site assessment and the predictive kinetic analysis of potentials. The book provides a clear and concise introduction to the nature of and potential for bioremediation to contribute to a critical global effort in eliminating contamination of the world's resources and to start to reverse decades of environmental mismanagement and neglect. Bioremediation - the use of microorganisms for environmental clean-up - is a technology that is experiencing a rapid phase of development. From the opening chapter of Perspectives in Bioremediation , on the nature of environmental site assessment, on to the genetic manipulation of native soil microorganisms, the international collection of authors provide an understanding of the current progress and limitations of technologies that are designed to help nature herself. The book draws together many different aspects of environmental remediation: the environmental engineer is introduced to the bacteria of contaminated environments and the ideas developing from genetic engineering; the environmental microbiologist can grasp site assessment and the predictive kinetic analysis of potentials. The book provides a clear and concise introduction to the nature of and potential for bioremediation to contribute to a critical global effort in eliminating contamination of the world's resources and to start to reverse decades of environmental mismanagement and neglect. Front Matter....Pages i-xvi Environmental Site Assessments and Bioremediation....Pages 1-12 Microbial Ecology of Contaminated Sites....Pages 13-24 Predictive Models for the Efficacy of Bioremediation....Pages 25-37 Rates and Dynamics of Bioremediation....Pages 39-56 Microorganisms Involved in the Biodegradation of Organic Compounds....Pages 57-63 Microbial Resources for Bioremediation of Sites Polluted by Heavy Metals....Pages 65-73 Bioconversion and Removal of Metals and Radionuclides....Pages 75-91 Adaptation: Dynamics of Genes, Enzyme Activities and Populations....Pages 93-105 Protein Engineering for Improved Biodegradation of Recalcitrant Pollutants....Pages 107-118 Back Matter....Pages 119-123 Proceedings of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop on Biotechnical Remediation of Contaminated Sites, Lviv, Ukraine, March 5-9, 1996